During the early 1960s, Jake began experimenting with greenhouse watering applications in an effort to save Olga the many hours it took to water by hand. Like the vast majority of tobacco farming wives, she kept the farm running by feeding the harvest gangs three square meals a day, completing numerous household chores and raising the children. Jake’s time-saving innovations would bring much needed relief for the farming family.      

Jake first purchased a watering machine from Spray-Rite, modifying its design and re-configuring its hose and spray nozzles to enable smooth movement throughout the greenhouse. These adaptations solved a number of challenges including the labour intensive needs of greenhouse operations. Given its overwhelming success, Jake entered the business world, purchasing the entire Spray-Rite company. He approached his friend Keith Andrews, a drafting machine expert, and the two partnered in the business. Their newly created travelling water system promptly became an industry staple not only for tobacco growers but flower and vegetable farmers alike. A special outdoor overhead systems was developed for tree nurseries and it too found markets across Canada and the United States.

The company was rebranded “AndPro”, a combination of both Keith and Jake’s last names, and expanded into air-compressed bailers, racks and carts. A specialized watering system for cooling fresh-picked sweet corn was also developed by Jake and widely used in the industry. Recognizing the needs of farmers, AndPro provided innovative equipment solutions while remaining a leader in watering systems. This included crop irrigation with AndPro manufacturing the first hydroelectric irrigation pump in the province. With its own electrical supply, tractors were no longer needed for their power take-off to run the pump – another much needed time-saving innovation.   

In addition to his continued leadership with AndPro, Jake became involved with AgroSpray, specializing in land preparation and sucker control for tobacco. He also recognized the importance of multiuse farm vehicles, becoming a dealer for Argo.

Jake’s dedication to advancements in the agricultural sector was far-reaching with his equipment used across the country to this day.